Thought I’d kick the weekend off by sharing news of an excellent-sounding acquisition by Voyager Gollancz:

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GOLLANCZ CRASHES HEAVEN WITH SPECTACULAR DEBUT SF NOVEL

Gollancz, an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group, has bought world rights to a remarkable SF debut. Written by an assured new UK author, Crashing Heaven echoes classic SF and brings a cutting edge digital twist.

Simon Spanton, Gollancz Associate Publisher, bought rights for two books from London author Al Robertson in a major pre-empt ahead of an auction, through Sue Armstrong at Conville & Walsh. The first novel, Crashing Heaven, will be published in June 2015.

Crashing Heaven follows a unique friendship and ultimately asks what it means to be human in our technologically advancing world. Crackling with energy and wit, it will appeal to fans of everything from detective noir to genre classics like Neuromancer.

Gollancz Associate Publisher, Simon Spanton said: “From the very first lines of Crashing Heaven I was caught in the tangles of the amazing relationship between Jack and Hugo Fist. It was clear that Al Robertson was a writer completely in command of his material and totally at home in his chosen genre. To find all this, fully formed, in the work of a debut writer is special indeed. Why was I determined to publish this book? It’s a long time since I’ve read a book that takes the familiar and fashions it into something that feels so fresh. And it will be a long time before I can forget the terrifying manic energy, the barely contained rage, the chilling face of Hugo Fist.”

Sue Armstrong added: “Al Robertson is a master storyteller. Every page of Crashing Heaven sparks with energy and it takes a brilliant craftsman to create and control such an imaginative novel, especially one where the characters are as mesmerising as the ideas. That this is a debut is all the more extraordinary. But extraordinary is what Al Robertson does, I knew that the moment I met Hugo Fist.”

Al Robertson said: “’Gollancz publish the writers who taught me how to write. They use new worlds to dig into this one, which is exactly what I wanted to do with Crashing Heaven. It’s hugely exciting to be joining them, I can’t wait to start working with Simon and his team.’

Al Robertson has already been shortlisted for the BSFA short story award and longlisted for the British Fantasy Award. For more information about Al Robertson you can visit his website or follow him on Twitter: @al­_robertson.